A Gaby FanFic
by PB
Prologue:
Thanks go out to the various fanfic authors and Maddy Bell, herself, for creating this ‘universe' and providing the inspiration. Whether you realize it or not, there's a part of each of you, in this work.
I also wish to dedicate this work to Karen J, Jillian and Angharad – three lovely people that without their continued prodding, this would never have appeared. I also have to thank Saphira, Sidonie and Meri – for enduring my endless questions and keeping my German and any details of life in Germany, close to reality … ‘ Vielen Dank!'
It would seem that I've been put on a literary path somewhat like George Lucas did with Star Wars. “Rough Waters” is the prequel to “Reconciliation”, which in turn was based upon “Notes of a Journey”. As such, like “Reconciliation”, it is highly recommended your read/re-read “Notes of a Journey”, at least up to the point the kids are preparing to leave Grottoes, Virginia. This is to avoid any confusion with references to events that occurred prior to the start of “Rough Waters”.
Sunrise, and the new day's breaking through.
The morning of another day without you.
And as the hours roll by
No one's there to see me cry
Except the sunrise,
The sunrise and you.
(Uriah Heep – partial lyrics “Sunrise”)
PB
“See her yet, dear?” Jenny asked as arrivals began streaming out of the customs area.
“Nope … not ye … There she is! … Auntie Carol!” Gaby replied, her voice drastically rising in volume when she caught sight of her aunt. Before Jenny was able to move, Gaby had already run to her aunt's side and had taken her bag while directing her back to her mother.
“Someone's excited to see you.” Jenny was all smiles as Gaby and her aunt approached.
“ Willkommen nach Deutschland, ‘cuz,” Jenny offered as she and Carol collapsed into a hug. The three women exited the arrival's terminal as quickly as they could to further avoid the crush of holiday travelers.
“Now that we're out of the crowds, let me look at you!” Carol addressed Gaby as she put Carol's luggage into the car's boot. “You've changed since the last time I saw you … you've developed into a very pretty young lady.”
“They're real, too!” Gaby playfully replied.
“Touché!” Carol shot back without missing a beat.
“If you really want to,” Gaby smugly blurted.
“Gabrielle Drew Bond!” The shocked tone of Jenny's outburst not only surprised Gaby, but Carol as well.
“Sorry Auntie Carol … It just came out.” Hearing her mother's use of her full name, Gaby sheepishly apologized.
“Don't worry about it Gaby ( snicker ),” Carol told Gaby. “At least YOU'VE got a sense of humour.”
Once Jenny was on the Autobahn, Carol turned around to face Gaby in the back seat. “Seriously Gaby … You have become a very beautiful young lady from when I last saw you.”
“Thank you … Auntie Carol? … Would Maddy think so?” Gaby softly asked.
After a long pause, Carol adjusted herself in the seat so she was looking back at her niece. “Gaby … the way things are, Maddy would never say that to you or anyone else. However, I know in my heart that she would be the first to agree in her mind … you're very beautiful.” Noting a blank look on Gaby's face, Carol continued her explanation.
“You have to understand dear, that what Maddy says and does these days is very, very different from what she thinks …outwardly she tries to give the appearance that you no longer matter to her.… but inside, I believe she's really missing you. Problem seems to be that she's trying to sort it out by herself. She won't let anyone help her and she digs her heels in if anyone tries.” Carol paused briefly then continued trying to further explain things to Gaby.
“A few times, like her last birthday when she didn't hear from you, I've heard her crying up in her room … or sometimes late at night I'd be up and hear her crying in her sleep … A couple of times I've looked in on her at night and found her clutching one of your old skirts like a security blanket.”
Addressing both Gaby and Jenny, Carol went on to explain, “She always denies anything's bothering her when you try to talk to her about it ... The more I asked, the more stubborn she'd become, so I've stopped asking ... Something has really unsettled her … I'm convinced that deep-down, she knows what she wants but it's going to take a little time for her to realise it.”
Turning back to face Gaby, Carol added, “Not exactly what you wanted to hear, was it luv?” Gaby's eyes were wet as she cast her gaze down to the floor and silently shook her head.
As the first tears dropped onto her jacket, Carol tried to offer some comfort to her niece and in a soft voice told her, “Gaby … dear … for what it's worth, I know she still very strong feelings for you … that's made only too clear to me every time I look in on her when I hear her crying at night.”
“I've brought my camera and I want a few pictures of you before I leave … let Maddy see how lovely you've really become,” Carol offered, changing subjects in an attempt to raise Gaby's spirits.
“Will she even look at them?” Gaby inquired mournfully.
“Yes … she will… she'll want to see pictures of my trip … but I'd bet my last pound note that if they were left ‘lying around' and she thought she was alone, she'd stare at any photo with you in it for as long as she thought she could without getting caught,” Carol replied with a devilish grin on her face.
“Thank you, Auntie,” Gaby quietly replied as she gave Carol's hand a squeeze before releasing it. Gaby was silent the rest of the trip home while Carol and Jenny talked. Once back home, Gaby took Carol's things up to the spare bedroom.
Jules followed her sister up the stairs a few minutes later and was walking towards her own room. As she passed Gaby's open door, she looked in and saw her sister lying motionless on her bed, facing the wall. Jules paused outside the door, then with a foreboding sense of dread, turned and slowly entered Gaby's room. She didn't know what was said between Carol and Gaby, but she did know she saw the motionless shape of her sister and her mind replayed that last night at the Walters.
Upon hearing her sister's footsteps, Gaby slowly rolled over to face the door. When Jules saw movement, a strong sense of relief swept over her. It only took her a few steps to reach her sister.
“Anything I can do, Sis?” Gaby shook her head in response as Jules sat down on the bed beside her. Jules knew they brought Carol back, so while she stroked Gaby's hair, asked, “Maddy?”
Gaby sat up. “How'd you know?”
“Your love is so predictable,” Jules quietly replied.
“What do I do Sis?”
“Ride it out … that's all you can do … unless you want to call Maddy and really end it between you two.”
“Am I the only one in this relationship?” Gaby's voice took on a soft whine.
“Do you think you are?” Jules countered.
“No … not really … sometimes … I dunno! … Maddy's here, but … like … it's only a distant feeling.”
“Then, I'll ask you again … do you want to call Maddy and end it between you two?”
“I can't … call it quits, I mean.”
“Then hang on tight … ‘cos I see plenty of rough waters ahead ... it's not going to get better overnight … but it will get better.” Jules cooed as she tried to comfort her troubled sister. Finally she put her arms around Gaby and whispered, “Don't worry Sis … I'll stay right here with you … every second … no matter what.”
“Jules? … Gaby? … Water's on ... want a cuppa? Jenny called up.
“Ok … We'll be down in a minute Mum,” Jules called out then as she turned to Gaby, urged her sister to fix herself so they could join the ‘olds downstairs.
“Better sort yourself out, Sis … tears or not, you still look like crap!” Jules playfully intoned.
“Thanks … Makes me feel a whole lot better,” Gaby sarcastically retorted.
“Do you?”
“Yeah … in a way … Thanks,” Gaby whispered. As she started for the door she turned back to Jules. “Sis?”
“Yeah?” Jules replied as she raised her head and looked directly at Gaby.
“Stay close?” She tried to smile at Jules but instead succumbed to the tears that she'd held back so well up to that point.
“Now you really have to sort yourself … G'wan, I'll wait right here.” Jules had to tightly close her eyes and quickly look towards the floor, to hide the tears she felt welling up.
Gaby went to wash her face, while Jules waited on Gaby's bed. When the girls eventually joined their parents and Carol in the lounge, there was no trace that either Gaby or Jules was ever upset.
Since everyone was there, Dave proudly announced that while Gaby and Jenny were at the airport, he had met with Judith and her parents. The end result was that Judith was now the newest member of the Apollinaris Youth Project.
Gaby suggested bringing the four together during the summer holidays and with only Nina and Kristen travelling any distance, accommodation wouldn't be a problem as both the Bonds and according to Judith, the Schröder's would probably each be able to take one of the girls.
Both Dave and Jenny thought the idea had merit, particularly since the Apollinaris training facility would be largely unused during that period since the pro team would be fulfilling their race schedule. The other pluses would be in bringing the girls together for some of their training and the few times the pro team did return between race dates, the Apollinaris junioren could train along side the pros. Being together also would make it easier for all the girls to attend the various road races in the * BDR schedule.
As Jenny had taken the week off for Carol's visit, it was decided Dave would put the idea to George the next working day as, he would have to authorize any expenses.
During the remaining days of Carol's visit, she and Jenny made up for lost time. Jenny took her and the girls into Bonn and Köln on combination sight seeing/shopping trips. Carol, in addition to picking up a few outfits for herself, invited Gaby to pick out and model a couple of outfits for Maddy.
Jen, knowing her cousin's passion for the grape, even managed to book the two of them into a small group of twelve, for a tour and wine tasting at Weingut Deutzerhof, one of the many wine producers in the Ahr Valley. During the tour, the ladies enjoyed a lovely buffet in one of the two wine cellars converted into a small dining room and before they left, both had purchased a few bottles of the several varieties on hand from the onsite store.
During the last full day of her visit, Carol asked Gaby to pick a couple of outfits and pose around the house with Jenny. These were to be the photos they discussed earlier, that Carol planned to leave lying around for Maddy's benefit.
After the last photo was taken in the lounge and with Jenny looking on, Gaby smoothed her skirt as she sat on the footstool by Carol's chair. Her facial expression turned from one of happiness to that of someone with something weighing heavily on their mind.
“Auntie Carol?” Gaby quietly asked.
“Yes, dear?”
“Do you think I should let Mad go?” Gaby mournfully asked. Carol and Jenny were stunned into silence as neither one saw this coming.
“I mean … she's really already let me go, hasn't she? … She doesn't give a sod about me, does she?” Gaby tried in vain to hold back the tears as Carol pulled her into her arms and just held her in silence, occasionally stroking Gaby's long blonde tresses and all the while allowing Gaby to cry herself out.
“I don't want to give you false hope, Gaby … but I really and truly feel that as much as she has appeared to have let you go … she really does love you … far more than she'll ever admit to right now and I also believe, just as strongly, that there'll come a time when she'll want the whole world to know exactly how she feels about you,” Carol softly cooed into Gaby's ear when she had settled and the flow of tears had been drastically reduced.
“Call it mother's instinct … and for the past 15 years I've had a flawless track record,” Carol offered, trying to sound a bit more upbeat and confident. Gaby responded by giving her aunt a squeeze and a peck on the cheek, followed by a soft spoken ‘thank you'.
“God … that sounded strange didn't it? When we were girls, our mothers talked to us of our boyfriends and here we are … an' I'm talking to my niece about my daughter's love for her,” Carol playfully intoned, addressing her comments primarily to Jenny.
“Want to hear something stranger?” Gaby softly asked Carol.
“What?” Carol replied as Gaby stood up.
“Mother-in-law,” Gaby smugly replied as she abruptly turned and walked quickly out of the lounge, leaving the two women, again looking at each other in stunned silence.
When Gaby was far removed from overhearing anything said between the two cousins, Carol turned to Jenny and in a quiet, calm and casual voice asked, “I don't find that strange, do you?”
“Nope!” Jenny quipped as they both smiled at each other.
Early the next day, during the ride back to Bonn and the airport, Gaby remained unusually silent, content to let her mum and Carol get in that last bit of visiting. A couple of times she replied to a comment tossed her way.
All too soon, Jenny and Gaby were saying good-bye to Carol and watching her walk through security for her return to Warsop.
During the ‘off-season' when the weather made training rides impractical, both Gaby and Judith could occasionally be seen together after school and on the odd Saturday morning, at the training facility as the two girls worked out on some of equipment including the turbos that were permanently set up.
George, never one to miss an opportunity for publicity, involved Gaby, Judith, Maria and Jenny, all representing the Youth Project, in a couple of personal appearances. As a result, interest in the Youth Project from local cycling clubs grew with every PA the women attended.
More to George's amusement than surprise, the fans at these PA's weren't about to forget Jenny and Maria simply because they retired from competition. They always attracted just as much interest and autograph seekers as the women of the 2004 Pro Team Apollinaris. It was initially because of their presence that Judith and Gaby found they were becoming well known in their own right.
During the time from late-October to early December, Dave was kept busy with trips to Berlin and Manchester, to check up on both Nina and Kristen's progress, as well as trips to Essen, Stuttgart and Cottbus to visit some potential candidates for the Youth Project.
This was the first time that Dave had gone to Essen and Stuttgart, but he had been to Cottbus on a few prior occasions, visiting the RK-Endspurt 09 cycle club and scouting three of the girls as possible candidates for the programme. Of the girls he planned to talk with, one seemed to show more potential than her fellow club members.
In addition, George made sure the team stayed in front of the camera, literally. The later half of November saw the German television network ‘Arena' film a documentary on the sport of cycling as it currently existed in Germany and in particular Team Apollinaris and the Apollinaris Youth Project. As a result of all this exposure, the girls discovered their faces were becoming almost as familiar throughout the country as some of the pro team.
As November was coming to a close, thoughts turned to the upcoming Christmas season and the family's first German Christmas. Maria and Jenny had already laid plans to celebrate the season together in a combination of German and English traditions. Jenny also had to make plans to get a suitable family photo for a select group of Christmas cards, in order to have them ready to mail by the specified deadline.
“Please don't make any plans for tomorrow, you two … at least until after we're finished what we have to do,“ Jenny mentioned as she was setting the table for dinner.
“What're WE doing?” Jules asked, with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
“WE … have an appointment at Sonnenstudio to get our family portrait done … and I want you girls to look smart,” Jenny shot back.
“When your ol' mum says ‘look smart', she means ‘sexy',' Dave joined the conversation as he brought out the glasses.
“DAADDDYYYYYY!” Both girls whined in unison.
Dave started to laugh and Jenny turned a deep red. He contained his laughter when he saw the girls were serious. The old adage “if looks could kill…” crossed his mind. In an effort to keep her husband from being verbally mauled by his daughters, Jenny addressed the girls.
“Actually … ‘sexy' is the word I used when I told your Dad.” Jenny held up her hand when the girls were ready to turn on her.
“Let me explain … I agree, that sounds strange for a parent to say to their daughters, but it's all I could think of at the time I was telling your father … Besides getting a dignified family portrait for the house, we'll be sending out this photo with a few select Christmas cards.”
Seeing the puzzled look on Gaby's face, Jules turned and addressed her sister in her best irritated tone.
“Does Mum have to spell it out for you … MADDY?”
When the light finally went on for Gaby, she was looking at both her mother and her sister, who were staring back at her, wearing silly grins on their faces.
“Since this will be a FAMILY portrait for the house, it will be dignified. Looking ‘sexy' doesn't mean that you have to look like one of the working girls back in Soho … am I clear … Gaby? … Jules?” Jenny quickly pointed out.
In a more normal voice, she added, “Jeans will suffice for what I have in mind … versteht ihr, Gaby?”
“Ja, Mama …I know exactly what she's thinking … c'mon Sis!” Gaby excitedly exclaimed as she grabbed her sister's hand and ran upstairs. Now it was Jules' turn be puzzled.
“Dinner in 20, girls,” Jenny called out as they disappeared into Gaby's room.
Once in her room, Gaby took complete control. “Mum said ‘sexy' … Ally said ‘sexy' back in Warsop … an' you were there.”
Now it was Jules' turn for the bulb to get brighter. As she picked up on the word ‘sexy', a smile began to cross her face.
“Go get changed an' give me those jeans for the laundry … I like that black top you have … goes well with your heels an' you can wear my dream-catchers again,” Gaby told her sister.
“ Now, lessee ... ah, yes! … darling Maddy gets ‘the full treatment' an' Mum gets to wear these earrings again .” Gaby thought to herself as she started pulling out her clothes for tomorrow's appointment with the camera.
Mum having said ‘sexy', Gaby decided to take no prisoners. She decided on her powder blue peasant blouse and her figure-hugging straight-legged jeans. Digging through her lingerie draw, she found her strapless bra. Gabs knew full well the effect of the bra and she was determined to show Maddy no mercy. Recalling Ally's reaction to her aboriginal accessories, she decided to wear them all – her hair feather, a pair of her feathered earrings, the beaded choker and the mid-calf moccasin boots.
The next morning, Gaby awoke with a sense of excitement. For her the real fun started later on in the morning when everyone was getting ready.
Following the breakfast wash-up, the girls rushed upstairs to begin to get ready. After a while, Jenny also went upstairs and as she passed Gaby's room, she heard both girls excitedly talking.
“Hee, hee … oh how I wish I had a camera!” Jenny couldn't contain her humour as she stood in Gaby's bedroom doorway.
“What?” Jules cried out, somewhat perplexed. “Gabs is doing my make-up, so what? … I want to look good for the camera.”
“An' maybe Johan? … We ever gonna meet him?” Gaby added in that teasing tone only one sister tormenting another could achieve.
“Don't you even think of it Sis … I'm still doing your eyes,” Gaby smugly added knowing her sister all too well.
“If you think back Jules, it wasn't that long ago you were doing you brother's make-up,” Jen reminded her oldest. “And now look at her!”
“Humph! … Good thing she doesn't have an interest in boys … now the trick is to get the boys … ANY BOYS … not to have an interest in her,” Jules joked, implying that Gaby was a boy magnet.
“Not my fault, Sis … honest,” Gaby whined in her best little-girl voice.
After Jenny left, Jules turned to Gaby, gave her hand a squeeze and in a sympathetic voice, softly intoned, “I know.”
Once at the photo studio, they were greeted by the shop's owner, Gabi; asking if they required assistance. “ Guter Tag, kann ich Ihnen helfen?”
“ Wir sind die Bond's. Wir haben einen Termin für ein Familien Portrait ,” Dave replied explaining they had an appointment for a family portrait.
Introductions were done all around, and then Gabi showed the Bond's where they could leave their winter apparel. Gaby changed from her boots to her moccasins, while both Jules and her mum changed into their heels.
The ladies were then led to a small room where they could fix their make-up. Due to the wind, Jules gave Gaby's hair a good brushing before letting her put in her hair feather. Gaby was the last one to leave the room and enter the studio.
“Owwww, SIS!” Jules squealed when Gaby re-appeared. “Hot … or … what?”
Both Jenny and Jules noticed that Gaby had lowered the neckline of her top compared to how she first appeared back at the house. Dave looked at his youngest daughter and grinned as he shook his head. Once Gaby had re-joined the family, the photographer led them to their pre-chosen setting.
The ‘stage' was covered by a bolt of rich-looking, deep red velvet that eventually rose from the floor to form the backdrop. Gabi first had Dave and Jenny ascend the two steps of the ‘stage' and sit in the richly carved wooden chairs, holding hands. Jules commented that if they were dressed in medieval costume, they'd look like Arthur and Guinevere on their thrones. Gaby and Jules were instructed to sit on the ‘stage' at the knees of a parent, Jules beside Dave and Gaby beside her mum.
Even though Dave and Jenny decided to go with the more formal look of tailored suits, they beautifully complimented their daughter's more casual look. The overall effect was a perfect balance between the formal and the casual.
While the photographer adjusted the position of each to achieve the best composition, Jenny took the opportunity to lean over and gently tug up on Gaby's neckline. “I know I told you girls ‘sexy', but this is going to hang in our hall by the stairs … Maddy will still get the message, sweetheart.”
She couldn't help but smile to herself when she recalled that weekend in Atlanta Gaby wasn't able to borrow her team uniform for the Apollinaris reception. It simply didn't hang properly on her; but looking at Gaby now, she would have no such problems.
After a few variations on the basic composition were shot, Gabi made arrangements with Dave and Jenny to drop by the house in a couple of days with the proofs and some sample frame pieces. Gabi was told that besides the one for the house, they would need a small number of smaller-sized prints for inclusion with some Christmas cards.
Back in her room, with her friends unavailable until later in the day, Gaby changed into something more suited to lying around the house and powered-up her computer to check her email.
Good news, Gaby!
Mum & Dad have given me permission to spend some of the Christmas hols with you & your family. Like we've already talked about, I'll plan to arrive on the 27th and leave on the 30th. I'll send details when I know them.
Can't wait to see you!
Hugs, Ally…
P.S. Went to a W.H. Smith's last week & saw the Dec. issue of your ‘Comics'! I can see why you're having a boy problem at school! Your aunt now has a copy to, in her words, ‘leave lying around'. J
Hi, Ally!
I've talked to Mum & Dad & they've said they're excited that you can come visit. Personally, I can't wait until you arrive. Dad says to let me know the details of your arrival & we'll be at the airport to meet you. Good thing I still have the gang's numbers on my contact list. Mum asked me if I still had your phone, so I expect Dad or Mum will be talking to your parents at some point.
An anxious Gaby…
A few days later after talking to Ally's mother, Dave revealed the details of Ally's pending visit, over dinner.
“By the way, kiddo … Ally's going to have to double up with you … We'll need the guest room for your Gran … that ok?” Dave nonchalantly asked Gaby.
“No problem!” Gaby replied and then Dave's words started to register with both girls.
“When's she coming?” Both girls replied in unison, the excitement quite evident in their voices. That brought a few giggles and even Jenny had to join in.
“Well, ummm … yes … I'm meeting her at the airport on the 22 nd ,” Dave replied completely oblivious to the humour of the moment.
………………………………………………..
* BDR – Der Bund Deutscher Radfahrer : The Federation of German Cyclists regulates all cycle racing in the German sport federation.
(to be continued)
PB 23.05.07 © 2007
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